Sound-box for phonographs and the like.



No. 825,738. PATBNTED JULY 10; 190 P. LBBIEDZINSKI.

SOUND BOX FOR PHONOGRAPHS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED 001.14. 1905.

R mmunm W and the Like, of which the following is a the requirements, the diaphragms used in fects will remain unaltered at both ends of -'the notes of a trumpet or the piano-bass The same is true of the recording-iiiaphragms subject of the Emperor of" Russia, residing l or repro ucing sounds of a varying pitch in the proper'strength and tone color chiefly only a certain progression of notes which may 'correctly. A lowly -keyed diaphragm .will always reproduce the low notes in a louder the contrary,a highly-tuned diap'hra in will and in a more correct tonality than the low Hurrah STATES i i-wits r orrion;

PIOTR LEBlEUZlNSKl. OF lfAlitiifi-d', RUSSIA.

SOUND-BOX FOR PHQNOGRAPHS AND THE LIKE- rte. 325,738.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented. July 10, 1906.

Application filed October 14,1905. Serial No. 282.704.

To a, whom it may concern/ Be it known that 1, Prorn LEBIEDZINSKI, a

at Warsaw, Russian Poland, in the Empire of Russia, have invented a new and useful Sound-Box for Phonographs, Telephones,

specification.

'The ca acity of a diaphragm for recording notes, which in a so-keyed diaphragm are weaker and unnatural. In short, each diaphragm in accordance with its pitchwill vary that proportipn between the overtones and the fundamental-which determines the color of the notes, so that also the true reproduction and stren th of. the tones will be more or less influence In order'to satisfy as much as possible all phonographs, gramophones, telephones, &;c., are usually tuned to a mean succession of sounds, although the above-mentioned dethe scale. Thus,- for exam le, thenotes of the violin when reproduce will always resembl'e those of the flute or the whistles and notes will resemble cries, they being without depth and strength, while only the intermediate notes between. certain limits, the pitch of which is in accordance with that of' the diaphragm, will be reproduced comparatively truly and in the correct strength.-

which are not uniformly sensitive for all notes, and therefore will record the several sounds only in correspondence with its pitch and not always in a mann'er true to natural Now that themusical scale comprises at least seven octaves, (certain overtones of the several notes remaining still without these ducing operation.

limits,) but the capacity of the diaphragm comprises only about two octaves, it follows that the diaphragm willhave to satisfy other conditions in order to be able to correctly reproduce or record every sound or note possible. First of all, the diaphragm re quires to have a pitch that may vary within very wide limits, and, secondly, the diahragni requires to be combined with devices )y means of which its pitch may be Varied, not only when at rest, but also when work.

ing'that is, during the recordin or repro- In other wor s, the diaphragm requires to be capable of accommoation in a similar manner as the eye or the ear.

The object of this invention is to provide a diaphragm which will record or reproduce accurately and distinctly tones of Widelyvarying pitch andbe adaptable during operation to a tuning adjustment. To this end the diaphragm com rises a central portion composed o a har material and an outer portion of an extremely-flexible fibrous mar terial adapted to stretch radially to change the tension of the dia hra m.

I will now rocee to describe my inven: I

tion with re erence to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 .is a lon'gitudinalcentral section throu h a sound-box. Fig. 2 is a cross-section t rough the line y z in Figs. 1 and'3.* Fig. 3 is a'section similar to Fig. 1, in which the diaphragm is modified. Fig. 4 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of two' hragms with a common stylusdifi'erent dialp lever, and ig. 5 shows diagrammatically the arrangement of two different diaphragms with a common stylus-carrier. 4

Similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

In Fig. .1, A denotes a diaphragm clamped at its periphery between the border or outer rib b of a sound-box B and a ring 0, which latter is secured on the box B, by means of screws (not shown) or the like; The dia phragm Aniay be placed in direct contact with the parts B and C orbetweenannular washers of india-rubber, cork, or the like on the border of the box B and onthe ring 0, so

as to enable thediaphragm A to move between elastic bodies. provided with an internal screw-thread, into which the external thread of a clamping'rirzg or I e to bezeLE enga es The latter is arrang The clamping-ring G is i press on the 'aphragm A, either direct or by means of an annularmsertion, so as to moreor.

less stretch-the diaphragm in all radial direc tions, whereby the pitcl: 'of the diaphragm is adjusted. The annular insertion when used is best made hollow, as S in Fig. 1,-which insertion is embedded in an annular groove E of the "clamping-ring E and bears on the diaphragm increase its pressure upon the diaphragm Al Beneath the diaphragm A an air-space is formed by a concentric stretching-ring D, on which the former rests. According to the material from which the diaphragm is made this ring D ma be elastic-or inelastic. In the latter case t e ring D may be made in one iece with the box B. In the annular space beneath the diaphragm A and between the border 6 of the box B and the ring D an elastic ring F is disposed, which serves for rais ing the diaphragm toward the clam ingrin E when the latter is unscrewed. Tiie ring may be turned directwith ones fingers or b means of an arm M, made in one piece with the ring E, This lever M may be turned by ones fingers or-it may be actuated by matic, hydraulic, or electromagnetic means of a suitable mechanism or a neudievice in order to adjust the diaphragm Awithout any shocks.

case the clamping-ring E is made to bear direct on the diaphragm it may be provided with a sharp circular edge, which acts u on the diaphragm A in a circle between t e stretching-ring D and the border of the box B for stretching the diaphragm; Thus the latter can be tuned at pleasure and durin the working. fill ed with compressed air or a liquid, can be made to bear upon the diaphragm A to stretch it by merely turning the ring E .or its arm'M through a corresponding angle. In-

- stead of adjusting the clamping-ring E the device mentioned above, which is connected with-the endless elastic tube S by means of a hose or the like, may be actuated for inflating the tube S. The elastic tube S will be found to be specially useful for adjusting the diaphragm during its work.

The stylus-lever G is fastened with its one end on the diaphragm A in thecenter of ,the latter, as usual. It is to be noted that at its fulcrum the stylus-lever G requires to be connected with the sound-box in a safe manner, and at the same time it must be possibleto strain at will the stylus-lever G and therewith also' the diaphragm A. This is effected in the following manner: Near its other end the stylus-lever G is rigidly connected with a The endless elastic tube S,'

slotted plate H at right angles to it. This slotted plate H has the shape shown at Fig. 2, and its two external edges J and K and its internal edge L in the slot are in the same straight line'and are oppositely-beveled off to form sharp edges. The boxB is provided with a recessed projection B, (see Fig. 2,) into the recess of which the projecting part of the plate H engages. A hook T (shown in dotted lines) engages in the slot of the late H and is secured by means of a nut N, w ereby the two external sharp edmes J and K of the plates 11- are pressed on t 1e corresponding faces 0 O of the projection B, which facesare in the plane of the dia hragm A. Thus the stylus-lever G is pivotal y connected with'the box B, while being at full liberty to rock. It is ossible to adjust'the pressure of the hook 'l upon the sharp edge L by means of the nut N without producing any strain in the stylus-lever G. A leaf-spring Q passes throu h the plate H and is therein secured paralle to the stylus-lever G. Two adjusting-screws R R are disposed in the projection B on both sides of the fulcrum of the stylus-lever G and are arrangedto more or. less bend the two ends of this leaf-spring It will be obvious thaton unscrewing, say, the left adjusting-screw'R in Fig. 1 to release the left part of the spring Q and on screwing so much the right adjusting-screw R that its point more or ess bends the right part of the spring Q the styluslever G, and

will be in proportion strained in all radial directions. On screwing the left adjustingscrew R so much that its point either touches.

or bends a little the left'arm of the leaf-spring Q the strain in the diaphragmwill be of course altered. In a similar manner the styluslever G, with the (diaphragm A in Fi .-1, will be pressed downward if the left a justin screw R bends the left part of the spring while the right adjustin -screw R is removed from the right part of the spring Q. In this case the diaphragm A will be also strained, and its strain may be altered bv screwing the right adj usting-screw B so much that its point either touches or bends a little the right arm of the spring Q. It is further evident that the strain of the diaphragm A may in either case be varied by more or less pressing the rin E alone or with the elastic tube S filled with compressed air or a liquid on the periph cry of the diaphragm A without the ring D case the ring D releases the diaphragm. In this manner the pitch of the iaphragm A sesnss ever, Within rather narrow limits only. For

enlarging the scale of the diaphragm it is therefore preferable to-manufacture the diaphragms in other manners. A flexible, tensible, and elastic material should be used which can be strained by means of the abovementioned pitching devices in a similar manner as a drum skin, so that the diaphragm. so produced may be pitched within very wide limits] The exclusive employment of a flexi- ..,ble, tensible, and elastic niaterial for the whole diaphragm is, however, objectionable; for the reason that the several parts of such a diaphragm would make different independ-- ent vibrations, andthus produce an injurious interference withthe sound. By the by, this interference has also been stated with other diaphrams made of stifler materials,

such as n1ica,--&c., more particularly in case thediameter of the diaphragm exceeds fifty millimeters. To obviate this, defect and secure great amplitude of" vibrations in the samediaphragm, the dia hragm comprises a central portion compose of hard material-- such .as metal, ebomte, mica, wood, &c.

' and an outerportion composed of extremelyflexible and radially-stretchable fibrous material, such as leather, bladder, &c'.

As the pitching of the diaphragm is efiected simply by more or less stretching the elastic border or margin; while the central stiff part does not inany way contribute to the itch, it is preferable and possible to make the diameter of the central stifi" part as large as ossible.say almost as large as the internal iameter of the ring D the more. so as the strength of the reproduced sounds increases with the diameter of the Working surface.

After the above explanations it will be understood how the sound-box is operated,

' as it is only necessary to vary the pitch of the diaphragm atjlthe respective moments during the record or reproduction of a speech, song? 0 the diaphragm A may be effected either withpiece of music or the like. The itchin out the stretching-ring D or within the same,

or on both laeesat-the same time; In order to strain t e dia/Ehragm A'Without the said ring D, the ring may be turned through a convenient an s, when it'will actldirect .or by means of t eelastic .tube S, filled, with compressed air or a 1i uid,upon the border or margin of the diap a or the abovementioned device for in ating the elastic tubes may be actuated. In order to strain the diaphragm A within the annular support D either of the two adjusting-screws R It, or-

both of them, may be adjusted. By so ml- .justing the diaphragm A it'can be given the desired pitch for the speech, song, piece of music, or the like to be recorded or repro duced. During the operation of the phonograph, gramophonc, or; the like the pit-ch of the diaphragm may bev'aried in the manner explained above. These various adjustments cooperate in rendering the diaphragm exceedingly sensitive in a wide variety of pitch.

For instance, a given adj ustment in either directlon, Within thestretcinng-rmg D by the vstylus G will have a different effect underdifferent adjustmentsoutside the stretching.

-ring D by the "inflating-ring S.

in the case of telephones or the likeF-of course the stylus U is dispensed with. while thelever G, with the leaf-spring Q, the hook T, and the two adjusting-screws R R, maybe either employed or omitted.

, The described sound-box may serve for rc'- ceiving or transmitting sounds and presents the. following advanta es: In sound-reproducing devices the sty us-lever G being secured with its end on the stiff partP (in Fig. 3) ofthe diaphra mA will put into jvibration not the center'of this part P alone, but the entire part P-that is, nearly the whole surface of the'diaphragm destined for the work-and in the same am litude as the stylus U, so that a lender repro notion of the sound will be ,the consequence. On the other hand, not only theiown tones, (vibrations of the free diaphragm,) but also the disagreeable scraping noise (ringing) during thereproduction of sounds, are very stron ly damped or deadened. In sound-recordin devices the ad. vantage is obtained that the diaphragm will receive and record only the actual and own vibrations of the sound to be recorded without beinginflunced by its own vibrations.

any sound during the record is insured and rendered possible. v i

All the advantages named of the soundbox according to my invention will be more apparent when applying the pitching devices to the known sound-recorders'and reproducers with two or more-simultaneously working diaphragms. In this case it is preferable for the correct record or reproduction of the whole scale to make the several .diaphra 's different in size and to pitch them for different successions of notes. As is Well known the several diaphr'agms may be put into vibrations either independentlyof each other by several styluses disposed inthe with the ance which is to be overcome for putting 0 i I V f same furrow between two waves or conjointly' by a common stylus. In t eformer case the several diaphragms are permitted to work independently of each other; while in the latter case the several diaphragms are connected common stylus in the following nl nner opposite to .the usual way in order to prbgure a] the advantages of the above-descri ed sound box: Seeing that the resistthe diaphragm into vibrations increases with the heightof the pitch-while the'amplitude decreases in 'the'same proportion, it will be clear that it.is preferable in devices with rocking stylus-levers to connect the severah viaphragms not with one and the same point of the common stylus-lever, but with different points of the-'same, as is diagrammatically shown at Fig. 4. The distances between the'fulcrum V of the lever and the joints VY and W; of the two diaphragms A and A should be in the inverse proportion of the resistances of the latter, but in proportion to ,their amplitudes. In devices wit-hout rockfin stylus-levers-that is to say, in devices iirw ich each diaphragm has its own stylus in its center and at right angles to it-the centersof the several diaphragms are according to my invention rigidly conneeted with a common stylus-carrier, as is diagrammatically shown at Fi 5. In this figure the centers X and X of the two diaphragms A and A, respectively, are rigidly connected with the two-ends of a common styluscarrier Z, which latter is placed parallel to both diaphragms. The stylus Y should be so placed on the carrier Z that its distance from the center, X of the one diaphragm A- stands in a proportion to its distance-from the center X of the other diaphragm A, which is'the reverse of the proportion between the two resistances of the two diaphragms A and A, respectively, but is the same as the proportion between their amplitudes. Thus it is possible by adjusting the said'joints of the diaphragms or the stylus on the carrier to insure, the correct effect and the-several note'sf,f&c.) of each diaphragm,

"which is of special importance both for the I -thecorrect properties (tone 'color, pitch of;

..in devices with several diaphragms the vivbrations of each of the several diaphragm's g will be rendered nearly independent-of those of the others. It is true thatasunilar effect 5 has been obtained in known devices (cede,

l for instance, the German Patent N 0. 144,706) j bv.em loying elastic wires which connect the stv us-carrieTwith the several diaphragms but there is the defect that the injurious: noise of these wires cannot be avoided. g

The new sound-box, or particularly the new arrangemen'tof several diaphragms capa- I C or of the 'ble of accommodation, may be utilized as The soundbox may be varied in many lie-- fispects without departing from the spirit of my invention. For example, the clampingring E may be replaced by'a flange of the ring border of the box B, so that the endless elastic tube S may be inserted .between the diaphragm A and the said flan e. This flange may be advantageous in case t e elastic tube S is connected with the abovementioned device for inflating'it.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a sound-box for phonographs and the like, the combination of a sound-box pro- .vided' with an annular stretching-ring and -with an annular recess .outside said ring, *9.

clamping-ring adjustable on. said box and provided with a recess-opposite the annular recess of said box, a diaphragm compr sing a central disk of hard material and a border of flexible material such as leather, and annular elastic rings disposed in said recesses above and below said border, the outer edge of said diaphragm being clamped between the rim of said box and said clamping-ring.

.2. In a sound-box for phonographs, telephones and the like, the combination with a box, of .a diaphragm in said box, a stylus-le ver secured with its one end on said, diaphragm, a slottedplate secured on said stylus-lever near the other end at right angles thereto and having within its slot a sharp edge and without theslot two opposite sharp edges which bear oma face of said box in the plane of said diaphragm, the three sharp edges being in the same axis, a hook in said box and adapted to engage in the slot of said his-lever near the other end at right angles thereto and having within its slot a sharp edge and without the slot two opposite sharp edges which bear on a face of said box in the plane of said diaphragn'i, the three sharp edges being in the same axis, a hook in. said box and adapted to engage in the slot of said i plate and to bear on the respective sharp edge, means for adjusting said book, a leafspring secured with its center in said plate parallel to said stylus-lever, and two adjusting-screws in said box on both sides of said plate and adapted to more or less bend the two parts of said leaf-spring, so that said diaconcentric therewith, a diaphragm secured at its periphery in said box and bearin on said annular support, a clamping-ring adjustable in said? box by means of an arm, an endless elastic tube between said clamping-ring and said diaphragm and adapted to bear on the latter Without said annular support, means for inflating said endless elastic tube, a styluslever secured withits" one end on said diahragm, a slotted plate secured on said styus-levernear the other end at right angles thereto and having within its slot a sharp edgeand without the slot two opposite sharp edges which bear on a face of said box in the plane of said diaphragm, the three sharp edges bein in the same axis, a hook in said box and a apted to enga e in the slot of saidi plate and to bear on t e respective edge,

means for adjusting said hook, a leaf-sprin secured with its center in said plate paralle to said stylus-lever, and two ad usting= screws in said boxon both sides of said plate andadapted to more or less bend the two 'parts of said spring-leaf, so that by actuating said means'or by adjusting said clampingring or said two-adjusting-serews said diaphragm may be strained Without or within said annular sup ort or on both sides at a time to adjust it or any pitch. j

5. In a sound-box for phouographs, telephones, and the like, the combination with a plurality of diaphragms eacli capable of ab.- comniodation to any pitch by varying its strain, of a common stylus-carrier connected at different points with said plurality of dia- Iphragms, the several diaphragms having different sizes and being pitched for difi'erent progressions of notes and the proportion of the distances of their joints from the axis being the inverse of that of their resistances and being the same as that of their amplitudes.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribin Witnesses. T Piers LEBIEDZINSKI.

Witnesses:

HENRY HAsPER, W OLDEMAR HAUPT. 

